Melissa Ross
In an email from his media office, Florida CFO Jeff Atwater says under his leadership, the state’s Department of Financial Services’ Bureau of Unclaimed Property “will soon cross a record-breaking threshold of $1 billion in funds returned.”
“This remarkable program milestone is due to extensive proactive outreach efforts aimed at reconnecting lost valuables and unclaimed funds held in dormant accounts with their rightful owner. This $1 billion in returns during CFO Atwater’s tenure represent nearly 40 percent of all funds returned during the program’s 50-year history,” according to the prepared statement.
“Whether we’re holding a $50 deposit from a now-closed utility account or $1,000 from a forgotten savings account, it’s your money — and it’s our job to get it back to you,” Atwater said. “One in five Floridians have unclaimed property in their name, and I encourage all Floridians to visit our website to search for lost treasure of their own.”
The state’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property says it’s returned more than $2.5 billion back to Floridians during the past 50 years. However, remaining unclaimed accounts are valued at more than $1 billion.
According to the email, property can become unclaimed for many reasons, often as money sits in dormant bank accounts or safe deposit boxes.
Also, here’s a link showing to how to access unclaimed property in all 50 states (plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico). Happy hunting!
